Elihu nelson



(No Model.)

E. NELSON. sEoTIoNAL SURFAGBGONDBNSER.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELIHU NELSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALE` TO WILLIAM M. MACBEAN, OF SAME PLACE.

SECTIONAL SURFACE CONDENSER.V

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 477,812, dated June 28, 1892.`

Application filed August 1, 1891. Serial No. 4017.406. (No model.)

.To all whom, it may concern,.-

Beit known that I, ELIHU NELSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sectional Surface Condensers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in sectional surface condensers, and is concerned with various details of such condensers with a view to increasing the efficiency, economizing space, and making apparatus ofthis class more Vconvenient to handle andv easier to repair.

One of the main objects of my improvement is to supply a sectional surface condenser that will occupy a smaller space than the surface condensers now in general use in sea-going and other Steamers. At the same time I provide means wherebya large condensing-surface is exposed and whereby a high vacuum maybe maintained by returning the water of condensation to my air-pump cool and to the boiler hot.` This arrangement economizes fuel and adds to the efficiency of the apparatus. I also provide means Where, by one or more sections of my condenser may be cut out either separately or together, as the case may require, While the remaining sections can be used and serve to a great eX- tent the purposes of a condenser, so that the engine may not be wholly deprived of means for condensing the steam, even though some of the sections should be out of use. This permits a damaged section or sections to be repaired while the engine is in operation. I further provide means whereby one of the sections can be used either as a heating-section or a condensing-section, as may be required. I further provide a receiver for taking up the water of condensation after it has passed through the heatin'gsection and a safety branch or overflow pipe ,above the receiver, the said overow-pipe being connected with the pipe that passes the water of condensation from the heating-section into the receiver. By these means, as will appear hereinafter, several import-ant improvements are effected, among which is that of relievingthe air that the air-pump has drawn vfrom Vthe condensing-sections along with the water of condensation and also that of passing the Water of condensation overboard should the boiler-pump fail to work when the engine is inl motion. i

In carrying out my invention I have de- 6o Avised certain noveldetails of construction,

one of which consists in giving a peculiar shape to the hoods of some of t-he sections, as will be fully described hereinafter. Another is a by-pass for the steam and the Water of condensation. Still another is what I call a safety-pipe for relieving the pressure on my first section, when for any reason the boiler-pump fails to act while the engine is at work. Still another consists in making 7'0 the center tubes larger than the surrounding tubes, the center tubes of the first three sections being somewhat larger than that of the last and somewhat smaller than the steamexhaust pipe. 7

My invention also comprises other details of construction, which will be fully set forth in the specification which follows.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is an elevation, partly sectional, of my sectional surface condenser. Fig. 2 is an end View of sections A, B, and C with the hood removed. Fig. 3 is a similar View of section D, and Figet shows the cross-sections of the center pipes of sections A, B, C, and D as compared with the cross-sections of the steam-exhaust pipe.

Referring to the drawings by letter, Z is the steam-pipe entering a Y with two outlets, 9o one of which passes through a valve 1 and into the hood a. 011 the end of section A. The other is a by-pass or branch Z, which passes around the section A and Yinto a two-way cross or couplingT beyond the said section A. The cross or coupling T has two short horizontal pipes connected with it, one of which enters through a Valve 3 the hood-a2 on the end of section A and the other of which enters through a valve 4 the hood b on the end roo is run into a T in the pipe F2.

of section B. Another by-pass pipe Z2 proceeds from the coupling T through the valve 5, and is joined to a T s, which is set in be.

tween the corresponding hoods ot sections B and C of my condenser and forms the coupling for the .pipes S and S', which join the said sections. In the pipe Z is avalve 2 and in the pipe S is a valve G. The connection between the hoods at the other extremity ot' section C and the corresponding hood on section D is made by means of a short pipe U, as shown in the drawings. From the opposite hood ot' section D a pipe M proceeds to an air-pump I). Beyond vthe air-pump is a check-valve C2 in a pipe E', which is joined to a vertical pipe E. The latter is connected through a T with the pipe E2, in which is a valve 9. The pipe E2 is connected through another T with a pipe N, that leads directly into the cylinder of section A, and also with a pipe X,containing a valve 13, the object of which pipe and valve will be explained hercinafter. At the opposite end of the cylinder of section A a pipe F leads out and is branched so as to go through valve 10 into the pipe F', leading to the receiver R, or so as to go through pipe F2 and valve 14E to an exit, overboard,or elsewhere. Returning to pipe E, we shall see that it is divided at the T, so as to afford a passage not only in the direction already described, but also through a horizontal pipe V, valves S and 17, and pipe II overboard. Moreover, before reaching the valve 17 a T is inserted, which connects the pipe V. with a vertical pipe Y, which .extends upward and The pipe Y contains a valve 15.

Above the receiver R is led off a pipe F3, which furnishes an exit overboard. At the bottom ot' the receiver a pipe G, containinga valve 16, is led off and downward tothe boilerpump P'. I place the boiler-pumpbelow the receiver, as the water of condensation which passes into the receiver is hot and the pump would not raise itil it were situated above the receiver.

The sections A, B, C, and D are made up of tubes, which are expanded into or otherwise secured n the tubesheets. The number of tubes insections A, B, and C is greater than in section D, for by the time the steam has reached the last-named section it has become greatly condensed. VIt I were intending to use the different sections in series, I should make them successively smaller for the same reason; but it will be remembered thatImay cut out section A or section B, or both, or I may use `section A as a heating-section, in which case the steam coming in contact with the surfaces -partly heated willv not be condensed to so great an extent. In either case it is necessary to make the first three sections of about the same dimension.

The center pipe of sectionsA, B, and C is somewhat smaller. than the steam-exhaust pipe Z and somewhat larger than the center'- pipe X ot' section D.

Such being the construction and arrangeA ment of the steam-conducting apparatus, it

now remains to describe the water-conductin g apparatus, and this will now be done.

The water enters at pipe K, which pipe is branched through suitable Ts or couplings into pipes X', K', and K2. through the valve 13 to the pipe N, which enters the outer chamber of section A. The exit is through valve 11, pipe F, valve 10, pipe F', to the receiver R, or through valve 11, pipe F, valve 10, pipes F' and F2 overboard, or through valve 11, pipes F and F2, valve 14, and pipe X2 overboard. lVhen the water circulates through-pipe X' and passes through valve 13, the valve 9 is closed to prevent the Water from passing down in ,the pipes E2 and E into the air-pump. The pipe K' extends downto the chamber of section C and enters it, the exit from said chamber being accomplished through a pipe I, which connects that chamber with theA chamber ot' section D. From the chamber of section D leads a pipe O, in which is a check-valve C. Beyond the check-valve a pipe L is joined on, which extends upward, and is connected by a T with the pipe J', leading overboard, and the pipe J, which forms the exit-pipe of the other chamber of section B. In the pipe J is a valve l2. The branch pipe K2, already mentioned, has in it a valve 7, beyond whichV it enters the outer chamber of section B.

By observing the arrows which indicate the course of the steam, beginning at the entrance ot pipe Z it will be seen that the steam passes through sections A and B (when they are in use) in a direction from right to left and that it passes through section C in a direction from left to right and through section D in a direction from right to left again. It is also evident that the direction of flow in sections C and D is not altered by the cutting out of either or both of the sections A and B, nor is the direction of ow in either A or B alected by the circumstance that one or the other is cut out.' It' now the direction of How of the ind notion-water is studied, beginning at K and referring to the arrows it will be seen that the water iiows 'through the outer chambers and circulates around the pipes in a direction opposite to that taken by the steam. This is true of the water which passes through pipe X',valve 13,and pipe N into and through the chamber of section A. Itis also true of the water which passes through pipe K' and the chamber of section C and pipe I' and the chamber of section D. It is also true of the water which circulates through pipe K2, valve 7, and the chamber of section B. I construct the apparatus in this way with the object ot' attaining greater efticiency in its use as a condenser, as I find that by this arrangement I am able to use fewer sections than would be the case if the water and the steam flowed in the same direction.

Anotherl special feature of the construction and arrangement described is that the induc- Thepipe X leads' TIO and the connecting-pipes enter either directly tion-'water is passedeold into three'of thesections, thereby producing a greater condensing eeet' than if the Water passed successively from one section to the next. In that case the water would become heated as it passed along and exert less effect in condensing the steam.

Coming new to the special construction of the parts, the receiver R is made et a piece of pipe standing in a vertical position With a reducing-coupling screwed upon the upper end Where the pipe F enters. 'At the bottom of the receiver a cap isscrewed on with a side opening to connect with the pipe G, running to the boiler-pump, as already described.'

I have adopted a special construction for the hoods, which are secured to the ends of the sections by flanged joints. and b', through which, respectively, the steam enters sections A and B, areco'nstructed 'of the usual shapethat is, they are semicireular-and the connecting-pipes enter them at the middle. one side is made straight instead of cu'rved,

from the straight side or, as in the hood 0.2, through the curved portion just alongside the straight side. I find that with the semicircular hoods the waterof condensation is sure to collect in such quantity as to form a back# pressure upon the steam, to say nothing ofKV the loss whlch takes place by reason of the Water not iowing through either` by gravity or under the action of the air-pump. By eX- amining the drawing of the hood a2 it will be seen that the connecting-pipe enters its lowest portion, sol that all the water which collects in the hood can easily be drawn ott by the air-pump. Furthermore, in the ease' of the hood b2 all the Water which collects Will pass out by gravity, as the pipe S is joined to the hood through the lower dat portion thereof. Obviously the same action will take place in the other hoods which form the outlet of s'eetions C and D. It will be seen that I make the upper portions of the inlet-hoods of the said sections fiat and horizontal, so that the said hoods may be connected with the outlethoods out of the sections just preceding by straight vertical pipes, which allow the Wateri ofcondensation to'fall through them Withoutobstruction. The hoods and the outer chambers of the different sections are provided with hand-platesr; t vl f, whiehcan be removed for the purpose of inspecting or cleaning the' respective parts. Drip-cocks a a a a are placed at the lowest points in the various pipes for emptying the condenser of its contents when necessary. The hoods, being connected to the'condenser-seetions by flanged joints, can be easily removed when it is nee;

essary to make repairs. Y

In Fig. 2, W is the eenter tube of sections A, B, and C, and in Fig. 3 X is the center tube of section D. Fig. 4 shows these same tubes in cross-section alongside the steam-exhaustl tube Z; The relative sizes are clear from.

these figures.

The hoods of Vith the other hoods, however,i

'Y The'operation of lthe apparatusn under varying conditions Willnow be described. Suppose, for example, that it is desired to use seetion Aas a heating-section. :In that case valves' 1, 3,4, G, 9, 11, 10, 16, 7, and 12 are open and valves S, l17,- 15, 2, 14, 13, and 5 are closed.

Thesteam enters at Z, passes through lvalve 1 into the hood a', then through the tubes into the hood a2, thencethrough` valve 3, coupling f T, valve 4, the hoods and tubes and section B,

pipe S, valve 6, T s, pipe S', and the hoods and i tubes of 'sections C and D, as indicated by the arrows.` As the steam has become condensed the air-pump I draws the waterof condensa- 'tion' from the section D through pipe M and passes-it through the check-valve. G2, pipe E,

and valve 9 into the chamber of sectionfA to beheatedl before passing into the receiver.

In the chamber of section Athe water of con- I densation circulates around the tubes and passes out through valve 11, pipeF, valve 10, and pipe F into the receiver. Whatever air the air-pump has drawn from the condensersections along Withthe Water of condensation will pass over the same course and out through the branch pipe F3. The said pipe F3 acts also as anoutlet for the Water of condensation in case the boiler-pump should from any causel fail to act while the engine is in motion. lThe boiler-pump takes the Water from the receiver through the valve 16 and pipe GL Supposing section A is to be usedfor a condensing-seetion. In that case valves 1, 3,'4,6, 8, .17, 12, 13, 7, 11, and 14 are open and valves 2, 5, 9, 15, 16, and 10 are closed. The steam enters at Z- and traverses the course already de 'scribed as being taken by the steam when the section A is used as a heating-section as far as the pipe E. From 'that pipe it passes through pipe V, valves 8 and 17,and pipe I-I overboard. The cooling-.Water for the condensing-section A is vtaken from the branch pipe X after it has passed through valve 13 and pipe N into the chamber of section A. Beyond the said section, after circulating around the tubes, the water passes through yalve 11, pipes F and F2, valve 14, and pipe X2 overboard.' j Suppose it is desired to cut out section A anduse the remaining sections, returningthe water ot condensation through a by-pass to the receiver. Valves 2,4, 6, 8, 15, 16, 10,v 7, and 12 are open'and valves 17, 9,'13,5,3, 11,1,'and 14 are closed. The steam entering atZ passes through valve 2 and by-'passpipe Z", and after reaching the crossl or coupling T will pass through the open valve `4 and over the course already described to the pipe E, thence by the pipe V, valves S and 15,' and by-pass pipe Y to the -pipe F2, valve 10, pipe F', and receiver R. From the receiver theboiler-pump carries the water through valve land pipe 'f Suppose it is desir'edto eut out'secti'onB for repairs or any other reason. Valves 1, 3, 5, 9, 1l, 10, and 1(5*are open and valves`2,4,6, 7, 12,-13, 14, S, 15, and-17am closed. f Valve 2 is placed in theeductio'n-.Water pipe of sec- IOC IIS

5 and by-pass pipe Z2, through the hoods and tubes of sections C and D, pipe M, air-pump P, check-valve C2, pipe E, pipe E2, valve 9, chamber of section A, valve 11, pipe F, valve 10, pipe F, receiver R, valve 16, pipe G, and boiler-pump; butif section A is te be used as a condensing-section While the section Bis cutout valves 1, 3, 5, 13, 11, 14, 8, and 17 Wil-l be open and valves 2, 10, 4, 6, 7, 12, 9, 15', and 16 will be closed. In that case the. coolingwater will pass from pipe X through valve 13 and pipe N into the chamber of section A, and will pass out overboard by Way of valve 11, pipesy F and F2, valve 14, and pipe X2. At the same time the Water of condensation will pass from pipe E through V, valve 8, valve-17, and pipe H overboard.

Suppose sections A and B are both cut out and that it is desired to ypass the Water of condensation into the receiver. In that case valves 1, 3, 4, 6, 9, 11, 14, 7, 12, 13, and 17 are closed and valves 2, 5, 8, 15, 10, and 16 are open. The steam enters at Z and being shut olf by the closed valve 1 passes through the open valve 2 and the pipe Z', constituting a by-pass to the cross or coupling T. Thence it, goes by the only course open through the valve 5 and the by-pass pipe Z2, whence it enters the hood of section C and travels. over theusual course tothe pipe E, valve 8, pipes V and Y, valve 15, to the pipe F2, valve l0, pipe F', and receiver-R. Thence it. goes to the boiler-pump, as already described; or, it' itis not desired to have the boiler-pump draw it from the receiver the valve` 16 can be closed and the Water of condensation can be passed overboard after it has illed the receiver through branch or safety pipe F3. I call the open pipe F3 a safety-pipe, because if the boiler-pump should fail to. act While the engine continued in vmotion section A would burst, unless. there were. an outlet provided such as I have made by means of the pipe F2. The only valve needing to be changed is the valve 16, which shuts off the Water from the boiler-pump and allows. the receiver to get illed and the `Water to be forced overboard through the pipe F3. If it isv desired to pass the water of condensation overboard-Without going into the recei-vervalve 15 Will be closed and valve 17 open. The water will pass through valve 17 and pipe H overboard. Besides closing valve 15 valves 10 and 16 alsor be closed, the other valves being unchanged. The cooling-Water will ente-r the K, connected to the main induction-Water pipe K, and it will pass through the chambers of sections C andD and out through the pipe O, check-valve C', and pipes L and .Toverboard.

Suppose all the sections A, B, C, and D are to be used as condenser-sections, the steam passes successively through the hoods and tubes of the diiferent sections and to the pipe E by the course already described, and thence through pipe V, valves 8 and 17, and pipe H V overboard. The induction-.Wateris conveyed into the condenser-sections from the main induction Water-pipe K through the branches X, K', and K2 in such a manner that each of the first three sections of my condenser gets a separate supply of cooling-Water. For eX- aniple, A gets its supply through the pipe X and N, the exit being through valve l1,pipes F and F2, and valve 14 overboard. Section B gets its supply through the pipe K2 and valve 7,` the exit being by way of pipe J, valve 12, and pipe J overboard. Section C (and with it section D) gets its supply through the branch pipe K', the exit from section D being by pipes O and L and J overboard, passingon the Way check-valve C. It will be ,l seen that While there is a common eductionpipe J for the sections B, C, and D, yet the first-named section discharges its cooling-Waterseparatelythrough thesaidpipeandsection f Cv discharges its cooling-Water through pipev I and the chamber of section D, and thence through pipe C, check-valve C', and pipeK to the same exit. Instead of passing the coolingwater after it has traversed the section A through the valve 14 and overboard, this valve can be closed and valve 10 opened, whereupon f the Water will pass into the receiver Rthrough the pipe F. It can then beused in the boiler, ,passing through for the purpose valve 16, pipe G, and theL boiler pump; or if this Water is not wanted for the boiler, valve 16' can vbe closed and the water passed overboard 1 through the safetyy overflow-pipe F3.

When all the sections A B C D are used las condenser-sections and the cooling-water which trasverses section A is passed overboard through valve 14 and pipe X2', the arrangement of opened and closed valves will l` be as follows: open, 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 17, 7, 12, 13, *11, and 14; closed, 2, 5, 9, 15,10, and 16. To pass thev cooling-Water from section A into i the receiver, the arrangement will be the same, s except that valve 14 will be closed and valve a 10 open. To passv the Water through the receiver to the boiler-pump, valve 16 Will alsol be open. In other Words, the final arrangement of the valves will be: open, 1, 3, 4, 6,8, 17, 7, 12, 13, 11, 10, and 16; closed, 2,` 5,L 9, 15, and 14. Closing valve 16 will have the eect of forcing all the Water to pass oft' through the 1 safety branch pipe F3 above the receiver.

may

It may happen that the Water passing through section A when it isused as a heat- Zing-section will get too hot for the boilerchamber of section C through the branch pipe pump to Work Well, in which case the valve 2 IIO may be partially opened to allowa part of the sired, to divide the steamV byv letting part of Athe steam pass through the by-pass and part .through the first section. The condenser, as constructed foractual use, will have ample cooling-surface to condense the steam without the first section, and for this reason when all of the sections are used as condensing-sections the steam may be divided, as before stated, softhat the steam will have a chance to expand suddenly kafter leaving the main steam-exhaust pipe, making it `easier on the condenser and engine. 'i

It will be observed that the heatingsection A has a hand-hole and a hand-plate both at thetop andbottom, the latter hand-hole beingthere to permit the water used in cleansing the chamber to pass out.

When section B is cut out for repairs, the condenser is deprived of one of its condensing-stations, but in that case section A may be used as a condensing -section, and the heating-section dispensed with.

I claim as my invention- 1. In asectional surface condenser wherein a series of condensing-sections are arranged consecutively, the combination, with a large center tube, of smaller tubes surrounding the same in every section, the center tube in the rlast section of the series being diminished in size and having a smaller number of tubes sur rounding it as compared with the other sections, substantially as shown and described.

2. In asectional surface condenser, a series of tubular steam-condensing sections, each section having a center tube larger than the surrounding tubes and the last section having acentertube reduced in size as compared with the preceding sections, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a sectional surface condenser, a series of sections, the first two or more of which are of the same dimensions, while the last section or sections are diminished in size, inV comblnation with suitable by passes whereby either of the first group of sections can be cut out at will, substantially as shown and described.

4. In a sectional surface condenser, a series of sections connected by suitable pipes containing valves, one of the said sections being provided with an exit both to the boiler and to the open air, whereby the said section can be used either as a heating ora condensing section,substantial1y as shown and described.

5. In a sectional surface condenser, a series of sections connected by suitable pipes containing valves, one of the said sections being provided with exits both to the boiler and to the open air, and thesame section being alsoprovided with inlets connecting both with `,the induction water-pipe and with the pipe conveying the water of condensation, substantially as andl for the purpose set forth.

6. In a sectional surface condensena re-v ceiver located between the exit-valve for the water of condensationL and the boiler-pump, Ythe receiver havinga vent tothe open air and being adapted to ,receive the water of condensation after it has/passed, through the heating-section and before it goes to the boilerpump, substantially as shown and described. Y t

7.` In a sectional surfacecondenser, a receiver located in the exit-pi pe before it reaches v:the boiler-pump,in combination withasafety branch pipe F3 open to the air and situated above the receiver, as and for` the purpose set forth.

` 8. In a sectional surface condenser, a receiver located between theheating-section and the boiler-pump, inl combination' with a by-pass around the said heating-section, sub stantially as shown and described, whereby the water of condensation can be passed into the receiver withouttraversin'g,the heatingsection.'

` 9. In a sectional surface condenser, a series of sections connected by suitable pipes coutaining valves, one of the said sections being provided with exits both to the open air and to the pipe which leads toward the boilerpump, the said last-named pipe containing a receiver rand a Valve for'closing or opening the passage through the same and also being joined to a pipe'which I call a f' safety branch pipe opening to the air and situated above 'the receiver7 substantially as shown and described.

lO. In a sectional surface condenser, a series of sections connected by suitable lpipes containing valves, one of the said sections being joined to the inlet-pipe for the water of condensation and also toa branch from the main induction water-pipe.

1l; In a sectional surface condenser,l a heating-'section which is connected v by a branch pipe with the main induction water-pipe, and an exit for the said heatingsection leading toward the boiler-pump, whereby, if desired, the water of induction can be heated for passing to the boiler, substantially as described.

12. In a sectional surface condenser, aseries kof sections connected by suitable pipes, an outlet for the Water of condensation, the said outlet-pipe being led directly to the heating-section, and a branch of the said outlet# pipe, forming a by-pass `which connects with the exit-pipe from the heating-section beyond the said section and another branch of the said outlet-pipe leading to the open air, all in combination lwith suitable valves for shutting off the water of condensation from any one or more of thev said; pipes or branches and` allowing it to pass through any lother of the said pipes or branches, substantially as shown and described. f 1 f l 13. In a section-al surface condensena se- ICS IIO

out one or more of the said sections, while leaving the others operating, substantially as shown and described.

14C. In a sectional surface condenser, a series of condensingsections connected by suitable pipes, in combination with a main induction water-pipe having branches which run directly to two or more of the said sec-g tions, whereby the full effect of the cold water of induction may be brought to bear upon the steam at several different points and at several degrees of condensation, substantially as shown and described. j

15. In a sectional surface condenser, a se-ll ries of condensing-sections, in combination',-r with the main induction water-pipe having three branches, one of which is connected to the first section, another to the second section, and the third to the remaining-sections, substantially as shown and described.

16. In a sectional surface condenser, the hoods having one side flat and locatedv horizoutally and opposite each other, the corre-l sponding flat sides facing each other, as shown, sothat they can be connected .by a straight vertical pipe, whereby the water of condensa-j tion will How of its own gravity fronione hood to the next, as set forth.

17. In a sectional surface condenser, a receiver constructed of a section of pipe placed in a vertical position and having a reducingcoupling screwed upon its upper end and on its lower end a cap with a side opening, as and for the purpose set forth.

1S. In a sectional surface condenser, a receiver having a vent to the open air and being located in the exit-pipe for the Water of condensation, and a boiler-pulnplocated in a position below the said receiver, as and for the purpose set forth.

19. In a sectional surface condenser, a heating-seetion, and a steam-exhaust pipe Vleading thereto and containing a valve, in combination withta by-pass, also containinga valve, wherebythe amount of stearn passing -into the heating-section may ber regulated,'as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name, in the presence of two witnesses,v this i 29th day of July, A. D. 1891.

ELIHU NELSON.

Witnesses:

.11. A. AOKEN,

G. H. STOOKERIDGE. 

